§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive properties there were in each Northern Ireland housing district in each year since 2000; what steps he is taking to increase the number; and if he will make a statement. [157666]
§ Mr. SpellarThe following table sets out the number of Housing Executive properties in each of its district office areas at the end of each financial year since 2000.
859W
District 31 March 2000 31 March 2001 31 March 2002 31 March 2003 31 January 2004 Limavady 2,050 1,930 1,841 1,725 1,653 Magherafelt 1,928 1,802 1,705 1,583 1,501 Strabane 3,141 2,976 2,855 2,670 2,515 Omagh 2,597 2,450 2,332 2,217 2,135 Cookstown 1,571 1,467 1,405 1,309 1,230 Northern Ireland total 128,622 122,875 116,431 109,742 103,920 Independent research commissioned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and carried out by the University of Ulster/University of Cambridge estimates a need for between 1,400 and l,500 new homes per annum. The responsibility for providing all new social housing in Northern Ireland now lies with Registered Housing Associations.